In an effort to safeguard the country’s financial system against waste and abuse, the Acting Chairman of the Governance Commission of Liberia, Alaric K. Tokpa has officially launched the Financial Intelligence Agency of Liberia (FIA) Strategic Plan on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
The GC Acting Chairman said that the FIA is charged with the solemn duty of protecting the nation’s financial system from corruption, illicit flows, and criminal exploitation. He noted that the Financial Intelligence Agency stands as a central pillar within Liberia’s governance arrangement.
Professor Tokpa intoned that, guided by its mission to protect Liberia’s financial integrity for the advancement of national, regional, and global peace and economic stability, the Agency embodies a vision of becoming a well-equipped institution dedicated to effective anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing.
The GC Chairman stated that, in fulfilling this mandate, the FIA cannot only fortify Liberia’s credibility but also ensure that governance remains transparent, accountable, and aligned with international standards.
The FIA is not merely an institution of compliance but a guardian of integrity whose work directly advances Pillar 4, the Governance and Anti-Corruption Pillar of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, the GC acting Chairman noted.
“By monitoring financial flows, enforcing accountability, and aligning Liberia with international standards, the Agency ensures that the foundations of governance remain credible, transparent, and resilient. Its mandate is therefore indispensable, not only for safeguarding Liberia’s financial integrity but also for reinforcing public trust and affirming that state institutions serve the people with honesty and accountability,” Tokpa asserted.
“The FIA is reclaiming its rightful place and performing its rightful role. On this occasion, therefore, the Governance Commission family and all Pillar Four institutions of the AAID join me to applaud the FIA, under the able leadership of Hon. Mohammed A. Nasser, for restoring the image of this noble institution,” the Governance Commission Acting Chairman stressed.
He lauded the FIA for commencing enforcement of sanctions against non-compliant institutions, issuing warnings to entities that violate regulations, and initiating probes into irregularities across sectors. “These actions demonstrate that the agency is once again aligned with its founding mandate and purpose,” he said.
“Equally important is the FIA’s collaboration with regional and international bodies such as the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units,” Tokpa added.
Tokpa mentioned that these partnerships are essential because most of the damaging financial crimes are transnational in nature. Money laundering, terrorist financing, and illicit flows do not respect borders. “Therefore, Liberia’s defences must be integrated into global systems of transparency and accountability. Through these collaborative endeavors, the FIA gains access to intelligence-sharing networks, strengthens compliance with international standards, and ensures that Liberia is not isolated but remains part of a collective effort to safeguard financial integrity,” he stated.
According to Tokpa, the launch of the Strategic Plan is more than a formality. It is a covenant with the Liberian people. It signals that governance will be transparent, institutions will be accountable, and progress will be measurable. By tying the FIA’s work to the government’s performance management contract, he noted, we ensure that reforms are not only promised but tracked, reported, and evaluated. “This, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, is how institutions build credibility with citizens, partners, and the world,” he said. Tokpa further noted that the ugly past reminds us of what happens when institutions are weakened. The progress today shows us what is possible when integrity is restored and when Liberia stands shoulder to shoulder with regional and international partners in the fight against corruption.
He emphasized that this occasion is important not only for the FIA but also for Liberia as a whole. It speaks to our collective responsibility to protect the integrity of our financial system, strengthen public trust, advance national security, and support inclusive economic growth.
Tokpa explained that financial intelligence is central to governance. It helps the state identify illicit financial flows, money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption, fraud, and other activities that weaken institutions and rob citizens of development opportunities.
He noted that when criminal networks misuse the financial system, they do more than move money illegally. They undermine public revenue, distort markets, weaken legitimate businesses, threaten national security, and reduce confidence in the state. Therefore, protecting the financial system means protecting the Republic of Liberia.
The Acting Chairman reiterated that the mission of the FIA is to protect Liberia’s financial system from abuse by criminals and to promote the enhancement of national, regional, and global peace and economic stability. That mission, he said, is deeply aligned with Liberia’s national development priorities and with the Governance and Anti-Corruption pillar of the ARREST Agenda, which is deeply anchored in transparency and accountability.
As Chairperson of Pillar 4 of the ARREST Agenda, Tokpa stated that he sees the work of the FIA as a key part of Liberia’s governance reform architecture. Anti-corruption work cannot succeed through pronouncements and slogans alone, he noted. It requires evidence, strong institutions, proper coordination, professionalism, and the courage to follow facts wherever they lead.
He emphasized that financial intelligence gives government the capacity to follow the money. It allows our institutions to detect patterns, trace suspicious transactions, support investigations, and prevent the financial system from becoming a haven for illicit activity.
However, Tokpa cautioned that no single institution can do this work alone. The strength of financial intelligence depends on partnership. It depends on cooperation between the FIA, the Ministry of Justice, the Central Bank of Liberia, the Liberia Revenue Authority, law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, prosecutors, the judiciary, reporting entities, civil society, the media, and international partners.
He stressed that partnership must be more than attendance at meetings. It must mean timely information-sharing, coordinated action, joint training, clear procedures, mutual respect, and accountability for results. Every institution must understand its role and perform that role with seriousness.
Tokpa explained that this Strategic Plan for 2026-2031 gives the FIA a roadmap for the years ahead. From the materials developed and shared, the plan seeks to enhance financial intelligence effectiveness, strengthen interagency cooperation, deepen stakeholder engagement, and build institutional capacity. He noted that these are the right priorities. However, he cautioned that a strategic plan is not successful just because it is launched. It becomes successful when it is implemented. It succeeds when it is resourced, monitored, reported on, and adjusted when necessary. It succeeds when the public can see measurable progress.
He asserted that Liberia must continue to strengthen the legal, institutional, and technological tools needed to confront modern financial crimes. The criminals who abuse financial systems are becoming sophisticated, he observed. Our response must therefore become more sophisticated. That means investing in skilled personnel, modern data systems, analytical capacity development, risk-based supervision, and stronger coordination with domestic and international partners. It also means protecting the independence, professionalism, and credibility of the FIA.
Tokpa declared that, today, we are not simply launching a document. We are renewing a national commitment. We are saying that Liberia’s financial system must serve lawful enterprise, public development, and the welfare of citizens, but not criminal interests.
The GC acting Chairman urged all agencies of government to treat this Strategic Plan as a shared responsibility. “Let us move away from institutional silos—that territorial institutional mentality—to national coordination. Let us move away from fragmented efforts to measurable results. Let us move away from mere aspiration to implementation,” he said.To
the leadership and staff of the FIA, Tokpa commended them, stating that their work is sensitive, complex, and often unseen. But it is essential to our country’s economic growth and development. That is why Liberia needs a professional, trusted, and capable Financial Intelligence Agency of Liberia.
To civil society partners, he invited them to continue to help build public understanding. To the private sector, he encouraged them to help strengthen compliance and cooperation. To government institutions, he urged them to share information responsibly and act decisively. To international partners, he encouraged them to continue to support Liberia’s reform journey.
Tokpa concluded by expressing his hope that this Strategic Plan 2026-2031 will become a living instrument for integrity, security, economic growth, and political stability. He prayed that it would strengthen the fight against corruption and financial crimes, protect Liberia’s economy, and help build a nation where public institutions are trusted and where public resources serve the public good.
Also speaking at the program, Amos Y. Boakai, Deputy Director General of the FIA, elaborated that the Financial Intelligence Agency’s Strategic Plan for 2026–2031 will greatly help in protecting Liberia’s financial system from abuse of financial crimes.
According to FIA’s Deputy Director General, the presence of AML/CFT competent authorities reflects our shared commitment to protecting the integrity of Liberia’s financial system, strengthening good governance, and advancing the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes that undermine our nation’s development.
“This Strategic Plan represents far more than an institutional roadmap. It is a national commitment to building stronger systems, fostering greater collaboration among stakeholders, and enhancing Liberia’s capacity to detect, prevent, and disrupt illicit financial flows. It aligns with the Government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and reinforces our determination to promote transparency, accountability, and sound economic governance,” Amos Y. Boakai pointed out.
He mentioned that as Liberia embarks on this five-year journey, 2026-2031, we recognize that the success of this strategy will depend not only on the Financial Intelligence Agency of Liberia but on the collective efforts of government institutions, the private sector, civil society, international partners, and every stakeholder.
“We are grateful for your continued partnership and support, and we look forward to working together to build a resilient, compliant, and trusted financial system that safeguards Liberia’s economic future,” he stated.
For his part, Micheal S. Doe, FIA Technical Focal Person for Program and Planning who works along with other technicians on the Agency’s Strategic Plan, narrated that the Strategic Plan of the FIA was developed through an inclusive internal process that draws on a thorough analysis of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) landscape, international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).
According to Doe, the launch of the Strategic Plan is to formally introduce the document to government institutions, development partners, reporting entities, and civil society. He stated that the purpose of the event is to officially launch the FIA Strategic Plan (2026–2031) and mobilize stakeholders’ support for its implementation.
He asserted that the objectives are to officially unveil the FIA Strategic Direction (2026–2031), communicate the strategic priorities and goals and the expected outcome of the Plan, and strengthen stakeholder awareness regarding FIA’s strategic direction.
“Expected outcomes look at the strategic plan that is officially launched, stakeholders have gained a clear understanding of the Strategic Plan priorities and objectives, and enhanced visibility of the FIA and its role within Liberia’s AML/CFT framework,” he stressed.
Former Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Liberia (now Agency), Alex Cuffey, has underscored the importance of the strategic plan in strengthening Liberia’s public financial management and governance framework.
According to Cuffey, the FIA Strategic Plan is essential as Liberia works to mobilize domestic resources, attract investment, and achieve sustainable economic growth. He emphasized that an effective Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime is fundamental to recovering, protecting, and diverting public resources that can be used for critical sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, energy, and agriculture.
“The FIA strategic plan is important as Liberia is strengthening public financial management, governance framework, mobilizing domestic resources, attracting investment, and ensuring sustainable economic growth,” Cuffey stated.
He further noted that an effective AML/CFT/PF regime is essential to recovering, protecting, and diverting public resources that can be channelled into education, health, infrastructure, energy, and agriculture.
Cuffey stressed that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has recognized the FIA’s vital role in protecting the integrity of Liberia’s financial system. The Ministry noted that the successful implementation of the Strategic Plan will yield significant benefits, including: enhanced inter-agency cooperation, sstrengthened financial intelligence capabilities, improved support for asset recovery, Liberia’s compliance with international standards, and aalignment with the FATF and GIABA Mutual Evaluation process
According to the Ministry Senior Advisor to the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, the prosecution of money laundering cases, where individuals are found guilty for financial crimes and recovery of proceeds, will be critical outcomes of the strategic Plan’s implementation.
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning further stated that adequate resources and political commitment will meaningfully contribute to the successful implementation of this Strategic Plan.
The Ministry emphasized that the FIA’s work is indispensable to Liberia’s economic reform agenda and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Agency in fulfilling its mandate.